‘Arrow’ Is Getting a Change in Leadership for Season 7

Just as Arrow Season 6 jettisoned Oliver’s flashbacks, so too will Season 7 make another foundational change. Series showrunners Marc Guggenheim and Wendy Mericle are apparently stepping back, and will be replaced by a longtime voice from the writers’ room.

Per Entertainment Weekly, series creator and primary showrunner Guggenheim will relinquish his role in Season 7, transitioning to “executive consultant” on both Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. Arrow co-showrunner Wendy Mericle will apparently exit the series altogether, while Guggenheim’s former writing assistant turned co-executive producer Beth Schwartz will take over Arrow showrunning full-time. Schwartz has been with the series since Season 1, and actually worked under executive producer Greg Berlanti on Everwood. Said Berlanti:

We are all so incredibly thrilled to announce Beth Schwartz as the new showrunner of Arrow. She has been a source of some of the show’s most exciting and memorable moments from the beginning. Beth is a true leader and a captivating storyteller, and we all can’t wait for the audience to see what she and her team dream up as they take Arrow into its next big chapter.

The CW recently made a show of renewing all five of its DC dramas, including Arrow for Season 7, Flash for Season 5, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl for Season 4, and Black Lightning for Season 2. The superhero shows’ leadership also made headlines last year ousting Guggenheim’s co-executive producer Andrew Kreisberg over numerous complaints of sexual harassment. Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller now showrun Supergirl with Todd Helbing helming The Flash, and Guggenheim’s exit leaves Phil Klemmer as sole showrunner to Legends.

It’s worth wondering what new direction Arrow might take in Season 7, which is already confirmed to feature Colton Haynes’ full-time return as Roy Harper following Willa Holland’s exit as Thea. Season 6 continues airing on The CW, so stay tuned for further details.